Genk confirm De Bruyne Chelsea talks

Racing Genk midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is closing in on a move to Chelsea after officials from the Belgium club jetted into London to trash out a deal.

De Bruyne, 20, has been on Chelsea's radar for some time, and faced the Blues twice in this season's Champions League group stage. He could be a Chelseas player by the end of the week after Genk director Dirk Degraen arrived at Stamford Bridge to seal the transfer.

If the reported £8.5 million deal is completed, it is anticipated De Bruyne will be loaned back to Belgian champions Genk for the rest of the Pro League season.

"Dirk Degraen is in London and the expectation is that it (the transfer of De Bruyne) will be finished this week,'' a Genk spokesman said. "The assumption is that Kevin de Bruyne will be transferred to Chelsea and then will finish the season (on loan) at Genk.''

De Bruyne, predominantly a left-sided player, joined Genk at 14 and quickly rose through the ranks. He made his international debut for Belgium in 2010 and is seen as one of the
brightest young prospects in the country.

Should De Bruyne move to Stamford Bridge, he will become the third Belgian
player signed by Andre Villas-Boas following the arrivals of Romelu Lukaku and
Thibaut Courtois.